Conference
of the Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committees

of
the Council of Europe Member States

8-10
February 2016, Sofia

Agenda

8th
of February 2016, Monday

Arrival
of participants

20:00
Reception Hosted by
Ms. Dzhema
Grozdanova,
Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bulgarian
National Assembly and Head of the Bulgarian Delegation to
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

9th
of February 2016, Tuesday

09:00
–
10:00 Registration
of Participants

10:00
– 10:20OPENING
SESSION

Welcoming
Address by Ms.
Tsetska Tsacheva -
Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly

Address
byMr.
Pedro Agramunt -
President of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Sofia
Declaration of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on
Values and Principles of European Unity and Cooperation - The Need
for Assembling the Fourth Summit of the Council of Europe

Chaired
by Ms. Dzhema
Grozdanova -
Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bulgarian
National Assembly and Head of the Bulgarian Delegation to
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Mr.
Pedro Agramunt –
President of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Mr.
Michelle Nicoletti
– Chairman of Socialist Group of Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe

Mr.
Latchezar Toshev –
Honorary Associate of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

CONCLUSIONS

17:00
– 19:00

Cultural
Program

20:30
– 22.00

Buffet
Dinner Hosted by the Bulgarian Delegation to PACE

10th
of February, Wednesday

Departure
of Participants

Democratic
Security Based on European Unity and Co-operation

Welcoming
Address by Ms. Tsetska Tsacheva

President of the Bulgarian National
Assembly

Mr. President of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,

Madam Deputy
General Secretary,

Mr. Chairman of
the Committee of Ministers,

Honorable
Chairpersons of the Foreign Affairs Committees,

Thank
you all who are here, concerned about the future of United Europe.

Our countries today are faced with challenges that only a few years
ago seemed unthinkable.

The
solutions to the problems we face today can be achieved only by
common actions and unified policies.

Bulgaria
assumed the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council
of Europe on 10 November 2015.

We proposed the slogan “Unity makes
strength” as a motto of the Bulgarian Chairmanship.

Just
in time.

The
violations of international law we witnessed in 2014, as well as the
huge wave of migrants from Syria and Afghanistan to Europe in the
winter season rendered the situation dramatic.

Those
challenges are far from having gone in the past.

That
is why we rely on the Council of Europe not only as the first
pan-European structure, but also as a unique forum for dialogue
between the member states of the European Union, and those who do not
belong to it.

The
concept of Democratic Security, launched by the Secretary General
Thorbjorn Jagland in the last annual report on the state of democracy
in Europe, shows that protecting the security is by no means contrary
to the protection of human rights and democracy.

Quite the opposite.

Without the protection of society and the established order there can
be neither social nor economic security, nor can the rights and
freedoms of citizens be defended.

Emergency measures in a difficult
situation are admissible explicitly to protect the core values and
the achievements of European Unity.

However, it is obvious that such
measures are taken in a particular occurrence, they have a strictly
specified scope and duration, and whenever circumstances permit so,
they are lifted.

The
border is a guarantee of the state’s responsibility to protect
citizens' rights. Strengthening our borders is a matter of duty both
to our own citizens, as well as to the protection of rights of those
who seek refuge in our countries.

Therefore,
protecting our borders from illegally crossing migrants does not in
any way contradict the principles of democracy and rule of law.

I
would like to emphasize that today some of our frontiers are at the
same time external borders of the European Union.

Therefore, the
problem of migrants is not, and cannot be considered a matter of a
single country.

I congratulate the
Bulgarian delegation for the adopted on November 27 in Sofia
Declaration on European unity and cooperation.

It was submitted with
the signatures of leaders of all political groups in the Assembly.

We
count on support for the continuation of this initiative, having led
to the idea of convening the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and
Government of the member states of the Council of Europe and the
newly elected President of PACE Mr. Pedro Agramunt.

We could reach an
accord based on the values we share.

I think that the intercultural
and inter-religious dialogue that the Council of Europe promotes in a
number of documents would help to discover a model in which to live
together in the 21st century while preserving common values and
principles of European unity and cooperation.

I believe that this
conference will help to reaffirm the European spirit, which brought
peace and prosperity to the old continent.

Parliamentary
diplomacy is our response to the challenges of the dynamically
changing international environment.

Parliamentary
diplomacy reflects the political will of all parties represented in
Parliament, and for that very reason, increases even more the
legitimacy to our agreements.

That is why, in the sense of Resolution
1773 of PACE it has its place in the European political architecture,
and our Parliaments should make use of this opportunity and develop
it further.

Let me in my wishes
for success of this conference to conclude that the confidence among
us makes the synergy possible and the motto that had inspired our
ancestors and which we offered to the United Europe is sending the
message that "Unity makes strength!"

PACE President calls for unity around the
principles of democratic security

Speaking to a
Conference of Chairpersons of Committees of Foreign Affairs of National
Parliaments in Sofia today, PACE President Pedro Agramunt has called for
“unity in the face of the many challenges we are confronted with”.

“The process of reconciliation and pan-European unification started
in 1989, but cracks have appeared in the last few years. ‘Frozen’ and
‘burning’ conflicts, especially on our eastern borders, represent a real
threat to Europe’s unity and stability,” said the President.

“History has taught us that mature
democracies do not wage war with each other. The key word is ‘mature’.
But by moving too quickly to create democracies without doing the hard
work to create institutions to protect the rights of minority groups, it
will be more likely that the most ruthless thugs seize power in the
territories concerned,” he stressed.

“International terrorism, the refugee
crisis, the wave of left and right-wing populism, rising nationalism and
the erosion of democratic principles and human rights – all these
challenges and threats interact, fuelling and exacerbating each other.
They have a global dimension and affect all of us. No country can
respond effectively alone.”

Reiterating the Assembly’s support for
the idea of a fourth Council of Europe Summit, the President stressed
the need “to reaffirm our political commitment to what unites us – the
principles of democratic security – as well as to update, and further
develop, strategic lines of action for our Organisation and our member
States, in order to pursue and deepen the process of European
co-operation”.

“Our strength is our unity around our
values and it is very symbolic that the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the
Committee of Ministers has chosen this idea as a motto for its
activities,” he concluded.

Speech :

Opening
statement at the Conference of chairpersons of committees of foreign
affairs of national parliaments

(anglais
uniquement)

Sofia,
mardi, 9 février 2016

Honourable
Speaker of Parliament,

Minister,

Deputy Secretary General,

Distinguished colleagues and guests,

Allow me to thank our Bulgarian colleagues for
organising this Conference, for their warm welcome and hospitality.

It gives me a special honour and pleasure to be here
with you today because this is my first major international activity
as President of the Assembly and I am delighted with the possibility
to visit Sofia, the capital of the country that currently chairs the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

If I were to define the mission statement of the
Council of Europe, I would probably not be able to come with a better
proposal: "Building democratic security based on European unity
and co-operation".

Indeed, sixty-seven years ago, the founding fathers
of the Council of Europe assigned an important mission to our
Organisation: achieving a greater unity between European states for
the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles
of individual freedom, political freedom and the rule of law, which
are their common heritage and on which true democracies are found.

During the sixty-seven years of our history, we have
managed to build a common Pan-European legal space based on the
principles of human rights, rule of law and democracy covering the
whole European continent.

As pioneers of European unity, we pursued our
mission after the fall of the Berlin Wall, opening up our doors
towards the East in order to help new democracies rebuild strong
institutions respecting human rights and complying with the rule of
law. This was the starting point of a process of building a Europe
without dividing lines.

History has taught us that mature democracies do not
wage war with each other. The key word is mature.

But by moving too quickly to create democracies
without doing the hard work to create institutions to protect the
rights of minority groups – work that can literally take
generations – it will be more likely that the most ruthless thugs
seize power in the territories concerned.

Our achievements are recognised Europe-wide and
reflected in a number of our own texts. In this context, let me refer
to the 2009 report by one of my predecessors – Jean-Claude Mignon –
on "the future of the Council of Europe in the light of its 60
years of experience".

The conclusions of this report are clearly relevant
today: our achievements are great, but so are the challenges we are
facing. Our mission is far from being complete.

Seventy years after the end of World War II, 40
years after the Helsinki Final Act and 25 years after the fall of the
Berlin Wall, Europe is still not at peace within itself.

The process of reconciliation and Pan-European
unification started in 1989, but cracks have appeared in the last few
years. "Frozen" and "burning" conflicts,
especially on our Eastern borders, represent a real threat to
Europe's unity and stability.

To this, we must add the many challenges that
undermine our fundamental values - democracy, human rights and the
rule of law.

There are numerous issues, but I would like to
highlight three which I believe have to be addressed as a matter of
utmost priority.

In our times, both state and non-state enemies will
seek more asymmetric ways to challenge our countries and our allies.
When they fight us conventionally, they are defeated in days or
weeks. However, when they fight unconventionally, by employing
terrorism or guerrilla tactics, our traditional response mechanisms
may not be that effective and our societies and institutions have to
adapt to better defend themselves.

Second, the refugee crisis, which has triggered much
debate about European identity and values.

Third, the wave of left and right-wing populism,
rising nationalism and the erosion of democratic principles and human
rights affect our cohesion and our capacity for joint action.

These
challenges and threats interact, fuelling and exacerbating each
other. They have a global dimension and affect all of us. No country
alone can find an effective response.

Dear colleagues,

It is my strong belief that the Council of Europe
has the necessary strength, capacity and tools to address these
challenges.

Our strength – is our unity around our values and
it is very symbolic that the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the Committee
of Ministers has chosen this idea as a motto for its activities.

What unites us are the values, principles and ideals
that form our common heritage – democracy, human rights and the
rule of law.

These values and principles are the cornerstones in
the foundations of a Europe without dividing lines.

A Europe based on the understanding that we have
common interests which are stronger than divisions and that we have
to pool our efforts together in order to be a solid and successful
global player.

A Europe of states with

solid democratic institutions
built on the principle of political pluralism and checks and
balances;

independent judiciary that
guarantees the respect of fundamental human rights and freedoms
and of the rule of law;

Our today's conference is an opportunity to reaffirm
our political commitment to building democratic security in Europe as
well as to discuss action – by the Council of Europe and our Member
states – in the face of the challenges we are facing.

We are democratic and open societies and we have to
be aware of the threats to our security, stability and institutions.
Therefore, we have to find means to protect ourselves.

We must not forget that we have to be militant
democracies and we have the legal basis for that.

The Council of Europe standards – our conventions
and the so-called "soft law" instruments – as well as the
numerous reports and Resolutions by the Parliamentary Assembly on the
various aspects of democratic security will – I am sure – provide
a lot of food for thought for our discussion and we are looking
forward to listening to the presentation by the Deputy Secretary
General in order to put things in a broader context.

Allow me also to remind you of the Conclusions of
the European Conference of Speakers of Parliament, held in September
2014 in Oslo, which reaffirmed – at the highest political level –
the commitment of Europe's Parliaments to focus on what unites us:
the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law enshrined
first and foremost in the European Convention on Human Rights whose
65th anniversary we celebrated last year.

On 15-16 September 2016, the Speakers of Europe's
Parliaments will meet again in Strasbourg and I am confident that our
debates today will provide a lot of interesting background ideas for
their discussions.

Finally, I cannot but welcome the idea of our
Bulgarian colleagues to follow up within the framework of this
conference on the idea of organising a new Council of Europe Summit.
You will remember that the Assembly launched this idea in 2009, in
the report on the future of the Council of Europe which I referred to
in the beginning of my presentation.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe
called, in the 2014 report on the State of Democracy, Human Rights
and the Rule of Law in Europe, for a Council of Europe Summit devoted
to Democratic Security. The Assembly backed this idea in the Sofia
Declaration adopted by our Standing Committee in November last year
and our Political Affairs Committee has been seized to prepare a
report on this issue, so as to make a substantive contribution to the
preparations of the Summit.

Therefore, our today's discussion will help us move
one step further towards the concretisation of this idea.

“In Europe today, the
threats to our stability no longer come predominantly from the
outside. Many come from within our own political systems and our own
societies. Corruption. Loss of trust in state bodies.

The segregation of
minorities. Fear of diversity. From a security perspective, this
internalising of threats is perhaps the biggest shift of our time”
highlighted Gabriella Battaini Dragoni, while addressing the
Conference of Chairpersons of Committees of Foreign Affairs of
National Parliaments in Sofia.

Deputy Secretary General emphasised the relevance of
Democratic Security for the Council of Europe, underlining three key
ways at the top of the agenda:

Promoting and
defending international standards which all European states have
signed up;

Identifying trends
which threaten Democratic Security across the Continent;

Building inclusive societies.

Speech :

Conference
of the Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committees on Foreign Affairs of
the Council of Europe Member States

Sofia, 9 February 2016,
As delivered

What is Democratic Security?

Victor Hugo once remarked that you can resist an invading army,
but you cannot resist an idea whose time has come. “Democratic
security” is one such idea.

The core premise is that countries which adhere to democratic
principles, rule of law and human rights are less likely to go to
war with each other, or to experience violent internal strife.

The concept is not new. Many attribute its origins to the German
philosopher Immanuel Kant who argued, in his Essay on Perpetual
Peace, published in 1795, that armed conflict would becoming
increasingly rare wherever it required citizens’ consent.

150 years later, following the Second World War, the concept was
enshrined in the Statutes of the Council of Europe, and immediately
afterwards, in the European Convention on Human Rights: a
ground-breaking treaty which gave legal protection to the
fundamental rights and freedoms of all people on the European soil,
in order to help prevent the return of fascism.

Since then, the Convention has been integral to a number of
international peace agreements including the 1995 Dayton Peace
Accord, the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the 2007 Ahtisaari Plan
for Kosovo*.

The concept of democratic security, which has been at the centre
of the deliberations of the Heads of States and Government at three
consecutive Council of Europe Summits – in 1993, 1997 and 2005 -
has been translated into operational practice and tools.

What the drafters of all these texts understood is that promoting
and protecting universal human rights, ensuring through the rule of
law the security for our citizens in the full respect of fundamental
rights and freedoms, as well as checks on unrestrained state power
are essential in keeping peace and stability, in preventing
conflicts and in facilitating economic and social progress.

For the purpose of our work today, I would like to refer to the
first and second reports of the Secretary General of the Council of
Europe.

In those reports, the concept of democratic security is broken
down into several pillars, or building blocks. Let me mention just a
few :

The components are interlinked. Together, they foster trust
between citizens and their political institutions; promote tolerance
between different groups; allow a society to settle its disputes
peacefully; and they allow for a dynamic exchange of ideas, so that
our societies do not stagnate.

Am I saying that hard conceptions of security are redundant?
Of course not. “Hard security” continues to be vital –
based on traditional models of deterrence and military capacity. But
alone it will no longer guarantee stability.

Anyone searching for proof of the umbilical link between
democracy and security need only look across Europe today.

Democratic security in today’s Europe

Let me give you some very current examples.
Take the surge in violent extremism. In Europe terrorists now
attack us with devastating success – by using our own citizens,
from our own cities. Terror is increasingly “home grown”.

Consider, also, the atmosphere of hate and intolerance that has
swept across many of our communities. In its most recent study, the
Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and
Intolerance (ECRI) found a dramatic increase in anti-Semitism,
Islamophobia and online hate speech across the continent.

Both are the consequence of fragmentation in our societies, and
the reasons are complex: globalisation; Syria’s civil war and what
it means for radicalisation; prolonged austerity, widening
inequality, poorly managed diversity, and so on.
But the fact remains that division flourishes most where
democratic life is undernourished. Where shared, civic values
are weak or missing. Where certain groups are alienated and
marginalised, and mistrust, therefore, is rife.

The refugee crisis is further proof of the need for democratic
security. In many of the European cities absorbing high numbers of
newcomers, the mood is increasingly tense. How will we avoid more of
the violence and vigilantism that we witnessed in Stockholm last
week, when a mob of masked men took to the streets, beating up
immigrants and handing out leaflets threatening further attacks? In
the long term, only through policies of inclusion and integration in
order to overcome resentment and mistrust.

A third example: Ukraine. The Council of Europe’s position is
very clear: Russia’s annexation of Crimea is illegal, and it was
deeply destabilising. But this should not prevent us from seeing
that Ukraine’s troubles began with widespread disillusionment with
its institutions.

And lasting stability will only be possible if Kyiv can deliver a
renewed political settlement, based on an inclusive constitution,
stronger human rights protections and the decentralisation of power.
We continue to work closely with the Government in pursuit of these
aims.

We see parallels in the Republic of Moldova, too. Many Moldovans
are protesting against the “Billion dollar bank Fraud” in which
very large sums of money mysteriously disappeared from three of the
country’s banks, epitomising the systemic corruption which has
kept the nation weak and its people poor. Enough was enough, and
public unrest ensued.

Now, without far-reaching reform to remove power from the hands
of oligarchs, and to rid the courts of political interference,
further upheaval will be extremely difficult to avoid.

What these different examples show us is that, in Europe today,
the threats to our stability no longer come predominantly from the
outside. Many come from within our own political systems and our own
societies. Corruption.

Loss of trust in state bodies. The
segregation of minorities. Fear of diversity. From a security
perspective, this internalising of threats is perhaps the biggest
shift of our time.

The Council of Europe

And so the need for a strong democratic governance by states,
inclusive societies and the rule of law could not be more stark.

For this reason our Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland, has
reasserted democratic security as the overriding objective of the
Council of Europe.

We are the only intergovernmental organisation to sweep the
length of the European continent, encompassing 47 European states.

Created after the Second World War, we are the guardian of the
European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter,
and home to the European Court of Human Rights.

We work to keep Democratic Security at the top of the agenda in
three key ways.First, we promote and defend the international
standards which all European states have signed up to.Second, we need to identify the trends which
threaten democratic security across the continent.Third, we need to build inclusive societies.

On my first point, to defend international standards:

You know from your own work that, in moments of pressure, and
when nationalist forces are on the rise, governments may be tempted
to act unilaterally, in ways which risk departing from our shared
values.
We see this in response to the changing terror threat.

Our job is
to remind our members that actions which undermine human rights and
the rule of law make us weaker, not stronger – because they play
directly into the hands of the terrorists who wish to discredit our
democracies – as we saw in the aftermath of September 11th, when
grave human rights abuses were committed in the hunt for Al Qaeda.

So the Council has been spearheading initiatives that will
empower states to go after and fight terrorists, but doing so
together, and without undermining fundamental freedoms.

None more so
than our ground-breaking treaty to clamp down on foreign terrorist
fighters, which criminalises early preparations for acts of terror
for the first time in international law.
Responding to the refugee crisis, too, it is essential that
states hold firm to international standards.

For this reason we compiled and distributed the fundamental
obligations governments have to anyone stepping foot in Europe –
so that there can be no doubt. As you know, new legislation to
reform asylum systems is now coming thick and fast from European
governments – for example on new powers for police to confiscate
refugees’ assets at the border, and longer waiting times before
refugees can be reunited with their families.

We are watching these
developments very carefully to ensure that any such legislative
developments accord with the Convention and the case law of the
Strasbourg Court. The Secretary General has appointed a new Special
Representative on Migration precisely to help states ensure that
political reactions today do not create judicial headaches
tomorrow.

On my second point, to identify the trends which threaten
democratic security across the continent :

These are the recurring issues which are not confined to a small
minority of countries, but which appear in democracies old and young
– and are therefore pressing problems, which require a collective
response.
In the Secretary General’s report last year, two stood out. The
first is widespread weaknesses in Europe’s judiciaries.

Clearly within Europe there are states which boast some of the
world’s most respected court systems. However serious problems can
also be detected in over a third of member states. In many cases,
only poor safeguards exist against corruption and public trust in
the system is therefore low.

The second trend is worsening conditions for free media. Nearly
half of European states are now failing to guarantee the safety of
journalists and, more and more, we see disproportionate tactics
employed to suppress dissent. Even in states which boast generally
plural media environments, there are problems with monopolies and an
unhealthy relationship between media and political elites.

While these trends are different, the consequences are the same:
if judges and journalists can’t do their job, who is holding the
powerful to account?
So the Council of Europe has ramped up our activity on both
fronts. We are, for example, expediting a pan-European Action Plan
to improve the independence of their judiciaries. I also encourage
you to look at our Platform for the Protection of Journalists, which
exists thanks to the strong impulse of the Parliamentary Assembly.
No other tool like it exists: it is an online portal where
journalists can sound the alarm, and, crucially, the governments in
question are expected to respond.

On my third point: the need to make our democracies
inclusive:

‘Living together as equal in dignity’ has long been one of
our mantras, and policies to facilitate it are more important than
ever. Our work on social rights is hugely important here, as well as
our paradigm shift on diversity, as we call it the “diversity
advantage” (diversity is not a threat, but as an opportunity o be
democratically managed).

And, as we all know, education is key. One
of our flagship initiatives for 2016 will be a set of new
competences to help teach young people across Europe how to live as
democratic citizens: able to respect core, shared values on the one
hand, and different cultures and beliefs on the other.

These initiatives will, I hope, continue to be met with
enthusiasm from our member states – and of course our Bulgarian
Chairs, who I would like to thank for giving Democratic security the
spotlight today.

It is, as I said, an idea whose time has come. You as
parliamentarians have a unique opportunity to ensure that, whenever
there are debates about security, democracy is in the front of our
minds.

With your outward looking perspective, you also understand that
we have a shared responsibility to deliver democratic security. This
is what the Heads of State and Government of the first Council of
Europe Summit, in Vienna in 1993, expected from you when they
declared:

“We are resolved to make full use of the political forum
provided by our Committee of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly to
promote, in accordance with the competences and vocation of the
Organisation, the strengthening of democratic security in Europe.”

This is why I very much welcome the opportunity to join you here
in Sofia to discuss how we can continue building a peaceful, stable
and inclusive Europe on the foundations of liberty and law.

* All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory,
institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full
compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and
without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.\

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INTERVENTION
BY

Dr. WALTER SCHWIMMER

FORMER
SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

CO-CHAIRMAN
OF THE WORLD PUBLIC FORUM – DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS

-->

Mr.
Chairman, Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Immediately
after the horrendous terrorist attacks of 9/11 I initiated as
Secretary General of the Council of Europe in remembrance of the
victims a special service which took place in Strasbourg Cathedral.
It was a moving service, jointly celebrated by the representatives of
the main Christian churches, and also addressed by leaders of the
Jewish and Muslim communities of Strasbourg. This was a most
impressive demonstration of unity against those who by committing
these crimes not only sought to kill but also wished to shatter our
confidence in our values. It demonstrated also the spirit of
tolerance and mutual respect which we need when we are faced with
nearly the same challenges.

Europe and its neighbours face of
course similar challenges in this fast globalising world and we need
to prepare our societies to deal with them. The right answers are
essential. The challenges to our future – global terrorism tries to
hi-jack religion ,

the poverty gap is growing, financial
mismanagement in one country has suddenly global impacts, the threats
to environment and climate and not to forget migration flows that get
out of control – require a collective regional, international and
global response. Facing these challenges, if we take our
responsibility seriously, leaves no space for what was called by an
American author “the clash of civilisations”. On the contrary,
civilisations are jointly challenged. Terrorism is not the
result of one civilisation opposing or attacking another one, no, it
is an attack on all civilisations. The problem of poverty is
not only a problem of poor regions or countries, no it’s a problem
of the prosperous countries too and keeping the economy moving
concerns not only the developed countries. The threats to climate and
our natural resources are threats to the future of all of us. And
migration flows need joint action of the countries of origin, transit
and destination in a spirit that goes beyond the mentality of a
besieged fortress. This all needs global thinking and global
solidarity.

Yes, we are still sometimes divided on
the responses to common challenges. The refugee wave to Europe does
not only create mercy and compassion but also selfishness,
stereotypes and prejudices. Some of us are tempted to find convenient
enemies, thereby feeding all sorts of phobias and hatred. But we
should not be distracted from the pressing challenges of ensuring
peace, sustainable development, human dignity and democracy, because
they are the keys to any effective answer. We need each other and
probably more so than ever in these difficult times since “9-11”
which seem to culminate in terror attacks from Djakarta to Sinai,
from Istanbul to Paris.

Therefore
I am grateful to the organisers for having invited me and for giving
me the opportunity to speak on “Intercultural and Interreligious
Dialogue - Tool of Security Policy”. This topic is very close to
my heart since my days as Secretary General of the Council of Europe
and now particular in my capacity as Co-Chairman of the World Public
Forum – Dialogue of Civilizations, an international NGO dedicated
to the promotion of mutual understanding and respect, to dialogue as
a tool of security, conflict prevention and conflict resolution.

Terrorist
acts violate our most fundamental rights, just as they offend our
deepest religious beliefs. They must be condemned and repressed with
utmost vigour. But we also have to ensure that our response to
terrorism upholds our values. There is the need to avoid undermining
or even destroying our values on the grounds of defending them.

I
am very proud that in that spirit the Council of Europe issued on my
initiative “Guidelines on human rights and the fight against
terrorism”. While stressing States’ duty to protect citizens from
terrorist assaults on democracy and human rights, they recall that
certain rights may not be derogated from under any circumstances.
They further call for reasonable and proportionate measures. These
guidelines are more topical than ever and they are still unique until
today.

It
is further important for states to refrain from actions which are
likely to further fuel terrorism, such as using quasi-terrorist means
or closing all avenues for negotiations. In my view it would also be
wrong to fall into the trap of terrorists by declaring war on them.
First of all, terrorists and their illegal entities are never on
equal footing with democratic states. Declaring war on them is to
some extent an official recognition of their illegal and criminal
entity. Secondly, the terminology of war helps the terrorists who are
in need of an enemy to finding legitimization. “They are declaring
war on us, therefore you have to join our forces in this Holy War”.
We should refrain for giving them this argument for their satanic
propaganda.

And
it is essential that the root causes of terrorism be addressed. In
this respect, I started in the Council of Europe an ambitious
programme for intercultural and interreligious dialogue and I still
do not get tired to appeal to invest in education,
confidence-building, action against social exclusion, integration of
migrants, etc., and also and in particular to fight stereotypes, all
kind of xenophobia, anti-Semitism as well as Islamophobia,
intolerance and discrimination. And I have been convinced, that
Europe cannot do this alone and on its own only. I was the first
Secretary General of the Council of Europe, today a 47 member states
organisation, to attend and to address the Summit of the Organisation
of the Islamic Cooperation, I invited the then Secretary General of
the Arab League, my friend Amr Mussa, to the Committee of Ministers
of the Council of Europe

and
we started cooperation with ISESCO, an organisation which builds like
the Council of Europe so much on education, science and culture. Now
I have joined the World Public Forum – Dialogue of Civilizations
which is globally promoting inter-cultural and inter-religious
dialogue through mutual respect. Education and work with young
people is also high on the agenda of this organisation.

Looking
to our common challenges and also opportunities it is my deep
conviction that we have much more in common than many people
in our countries think. Unfortunately people too often look first at
differences and what may divide us than to what may unite us.

Diversity within and between our
societies should be seen as an asset, not as an obstacle. We must
learn to learn from each other.

Europe itself contains a wide
diversity of nations, cultures, religions, minorities. Europe
this is 48 states, 200 languages, several religious denominations
Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Jews, even
Buddhist, Latin, Germanic, Slavic, Ottoman traditions and others.
Since 2004 a Semitic language, Maltese, is one of the official
languages of the European Union. There has been always an interaction
with our neighbours in the East and in the South. During the time of
the Roman Empire the Mediterranean was called “mare nostrum” –
our sea. The Arabs, who came to Spain and ruled the major part of
the peninsula as “Al Andalus” brought a very valuable legacy back
to Europe, the heritage of the great Greek philosophers.

In times of rising xenophobia and
intolerance we have to recall the positive experiences with the wide
diversity of nations, cultures and religions in Europe and the
Mediterranean. I am convinced that it was exactly this diversity
which helped to create a European cultural identity, to achieve so
much in sciences and arts and finally to develop step by step also a
European political identity. Council of Europe as well as the
European Union are based on this new European political identity, are
based on the concept of “Unity in Diversity”. And this very
specific identity includes the obligation to share the achievements
and to get friends with the neighbours.

Europe has learned to some extent,
often after tragic historical experiences, to develop responses to
today’s challenges based on a joint commitment to democracy, human
rights and the rule of law. I do not hesitate to admit that this is
sometimes still not very easy and for sure not yet completed. In
particular, certain events and developments, such as terrorist
attacks but also the refugee wave, provide fertile ground for
nurturing extremism, intolerance and racism which take hold
insidiously, like an illness which is diagnosed only after its
effects have become visible – i.e. too late. Therefore we have to
speak out before in due time!

The responses, which we learned from
this experience and which are increasingly elaborated together with
civil society, build on universal values reflected in fundamental
texts of the United Nations which are our common heritage.

So the European commitment to these
global responses should include good neighbourhood and a real
partnership with our neighbours in facing common challenges.

I mentioned already
the title of Samuel P. Huntington’s book “The Clash of
Civilisations” which is frequently quoted, but as I realised, very
often by people who did not even read it. Time and again, I have
repeated my own conviction that the current problems do
not reflect a clash of civilisations
but a clash of ignorance.
I strongly believe that we can together afford bridging the
understanding gap between Islamic nations and the so-called West.
That is a prerequisite for starting our joint efforts to build a
better world. Fundamentalism is not limited
to one religion only. We should pay special attention to the danger
of an increase of Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and simple xenophobia
and fight fundamentalism and intolerance wherever
we see it.

Of course, I did not claim that this
diversity never poses problems. Problems do arise, such as incidents
of Islamophobia, and issues concerning fundamental freedoms, equality
between women and men, as well as failed integration of migrants.
But it is my deep conviction that our societies are strong enough,
our democratic system is strong enough to respond to these
challenges, to solve these problems.

There are other pressing issues too.

Increased attention to unsolved
conflicts may be deemed an important priority in the fight against
terrorism. We should attach particular importance to the restoration
of human rights and the rule of law that should in turn facilitate
any political settlement in various conflict areas around the world.

The Iraq war is – as we can daily
realize – not over. Syria is nearly totally destroyed by a war of
everybody against everybody. Afghanistan is still day by day the
source of bad news. Unfortunately I could continue this list with
many other countries too, in particular in Africa.

As regards the Middle East, I would
recall the steady support of Europe for the “road map” and that
we see the return to the rule of law and the respect for the legal
authorities of the Palestinians as part of the democratic and
peaceful alternative to violence and terrorism. Fighting brought only
suffering and no solution. There can be no military solution. Only
reconciliation and mutual recognition will bring an end to this
conflict.

What can we do in this sea of troubles
beside keeping our optimism and sticking to our ideals?

We, our partners and neighbours and
the Europeans, can jointly re-examine history teaching in order to
overcome ignorance and prejudice.

In the same spirit, we should assess
the way young people are made aware of religious diversity as a
contribution to the intercultural and inter-religious dialogue as the
alternative to the clash of ignorance. Education plays a key role in
inculcating basic knowledge and promoting empathy about religious
diversity as well as democratic practices. Let us engage in the
development of standard curricula that should help teachers all over
our globe to do precisely that. Becoming aware of the existence of
other faiths and of their main features must become an indispensable
part of any education in order to limit prejudice and hostility.

Religion and democracy have in common
the goal of peace and the concept of recognition and respect for
others. In today’s world it should mean all the others,
without any further categories, distinctions or discriminations.

Let me stress another important aspect
of this topic before I come to the end of my speech. We all are in
favour of the dialogue of civilizations and the inter-faith dialogue.
So usually at such conferences we are preaching to the already
converted. But let me ask a question to you: who shall be the
partners of this dialogue? The intergovernmental organisations and
states that are organising such conferences and sending their
representatives? The high authorities of the religious denominations,
Muftis and Imams, Cardinals, Metropolitans and Chief Rabbis? Of
course, I welcome their participation and their support for the
intercultural and interreligious dialogue. But what will be
essential for a success is the strong involvement of civil society
and in particular of the youth. To coordinate civil society
activities is a particular mandate given to me by the President of
the World Public Forum – Dialogue of Civilizations, Vladimir
Yakunin.

Let me repeat here what I was used to
say frequently to my fellow Europeans: “The European project cannot
be defined along narrowly construed cultural, religious, historic,
geographic or even ethnic lines.

The project of political Europe is
first and foremost based on values of democracy, human rights and the
rule of law, of mutual respect for equality and human dignity.” The
same applies in a more and more globalized world to our common
project of a better world.

I would like to see such an enlarged
global project of shared values of democracy, tolerance, mutual
understanding, human dignity and human rights and the rule of law,
national and international law.

By concluding let me
stress once again my conviction, that valuing diversity and linking
diversity through a shared commitment to fundamental values are keys
to stable societies, free of fear and free of terrorism.

The observation, the
practice of these fundamental values are in the long run the best
tools for safeguarding security. All human beings are born free and
equal in dignity and in rights. Let us defend and protect freedom,
equality, dignity and rights together.

Thank you for your attention.

Michael Spindelegger - Director General of the International Centre for
Migration Policy Development

It
is a great pleasure and honour for me to address you today as the
newly elected Director General of the International Centre for
Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). This forum brings me back to
2000 when I was elected as representative of Austria to the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and where I led the
Austrian delegation from 2002 to 2006. In this period I represented
Austria at conferences on migration issues.

As Minister for European
and International Affairs I worked closely with international
organisations on asylum and migration issues while also negotiating
and cooperating with many countries of origin and transit, always
believing that negotiations and talks are the best way to solve many
of the problems in these areas.

In the course
of my career I had to repeatedly balance the requirements of the two
main policy fields - on the one hand the demands of domestic policy
where elections are won and lost, on the other the challenges of
international and foreign policy where solutions and compromises have
to be found between states and partners which at times can be very
different in their views and interests.

Today,
Europe is confronted with an unprecedented challenge: the largest
influx of refugees since the end of the Second World War.
Regrettably, the enormous migratory pressure is interwoven with the
increase in human smuggling and trafficking. The environment in which
we operate has been additionally complicated by the heinous terrorist
attacks in many countries including France and Turkey.

Today,
most of our nations have similar challenges in their domestic
political agenda and their migration policy. Politicians and states
face anti-immigration propaganda, as well as growing fears among
their citizens that the influx of migrants
would cause

financial
burdens on national and local budgets;

additional
burdens on the national health care ,social and school systems

and
a growing menace of terrorism.

These
concerns have to be taken very seriously. But they cannot be
addressed by a simple closing of borders.

The countries faced with
these challenges are either MSs of the EU, members of the CoE, or
members of the UN and signatories of important international
documents like the 1951 Refugee Convention, the European Convention
on Human Rights, the UN Declaration of Universal Human Rights, the
Schengen Convention, the Dublin Convention or the Palermo Protocols
to fight trafficking of persons and smuggling of migrants, to name
only a few.

All
these agreements entail international and national obligations.
ICMPD’s work can contribute to reconciling the political and
practical responses to the concerns of the respective national
citizens/voters with the obligations of each of their countries
pursuant to their membership to the EU, Council of Europe or the UN
or simply because they have acceded to legally binding international
documents in the area of migration, asylum or combatting THB.

In
this very complex setting, together with our colleagues from
the CoE, EC, the agencies of the UN and
others, we are ready to assist the countries
regulating and managing their respective policy.

National
governments are currently undertaking tremendous efforts in order to
find answers to the day to day challenges. In this
context, Europe has to urgently develop and implement policies
such as:

Slowing
down the migrant stream, regaining control of
movements and regulating entry to their territories;

Exchanging
information and intelligence on criminal networks involved in the
above illegal activities;

Improving
and reforming asylum systems , thus making international protection
work more effective in Europe and in the regions neighbouring
conflict zones;

Enabling
and implementing effective returns and readmissions of those
who do not have the right to stay (without
effective return mechanisms European governments will lose
the trust of their citizens, and will not be able to provide
protection to those in need);

Consolidating
the groundwork for reintegration in the countries of origin

Assisting
a quicker and more effective integration for those who stay legally
in the recipient countries, including in their labour markets

Establishing
a robust monitoring system that registers the progress or regress in
the implementation of our policies

In
this process ICMPD is ready to facilitate
all initiatives towards common policy approaches within and between
the countries of destination,transit
and origin, helping them balance their respective shares of
the common burden of solidarity and responsibility.

We
can help countries in the development and implementation of a new
migration agenda on which the evolving common approach of the EU, the
UN and other international and national agencies will be based .

Our functionas Secretariat for several migration dialogues connecting
Europe, its Eastern Neighbours and Asia like the Budapest Process
and the Prague Process; or Europe,

Africa and/or the Middle East
like the MTM Dialogue, the Rabat Process and EUROMED can be of
crucial value at this very moment.

We
want to play that ambitious role based on our solid track record of
multi-faceted activities.

We
have implemented numerous capacity building projects from border
management, through return implementation to integration along the so
called „Eastern Mediterranean route“. We have assisted
Turkey in setting up its new migration authority and continue our
fruitful cooperation with the Turkish government in that area. For
ten years now we have been present in Lebanon.

We have established
close working relationships with partners in Jordan. We have been
engaged in the preparation and update of the background expertise
that underpins the ongoing Mediterranean regional dialogue on
migration matters.

We
have long-standing experience in training our member and partner
country institutions in the respect of the international standards
for human rights in the combat of THBs .

ICMPD
anti-trafficking team has been closely working with the Secretariat
of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human
Beings (GRETA) since its establishment.

We
have recently developed a project proposal with the Greta Secretariat
aiming at strengthening transnational cooperation in combating
trafficking in human beings according to the principles set out in
the Council of Europe Convention.

We
have devised and carried out numerous training programs for officials
tasked to effect returns along routes as long and complex as those,
say, between Macedonia and Pakistan.

We
have assisted governments in the development and implementation of
measures aimed at integrating legal migrants or recognized refugees
in countries of destination. Let’s be realistic, many of those who
have come to Europe fleeing war and conflict will stay here
permanently.

We have to our utmost to turn the immense challenges we
are faced with into opportunities: we have to make these people fit
for our economies and labour markets; and we have to ensure social
and cultural integration to ensure cohesion in our societies for our
own populations and for those who had to flee from war and
persecution.

Ladies
and Gentlemen,

The
challenges ahead will be multiple and long lasting. However, ICMPD
is a confident factor that will competently contribute to address and
tackle the current crisis, learn from it and make Europe and the
whole international system emerge even stronger than before.ICMPD’s ambition will be to play an even
stronger role as:

1.a
leading mediation platform for migration issues between all states
linked by migratory routes and

2.
a think tank to search and provide solutions for the current and
future migration issues and continue pursuing its current mission
vigorously.

The Second Speech of President of Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of EuropeMr. Pedro Agramunt

- at the opening of the Third Session of the Conference

Dear
colleagues,

Ladies and
gentlemen,

As we have
seen earlier today in our debates, the numerous political challenges Europe is
facing, both within and around its borders, call for a common response on the
basis of shared principles and values, dialogue, trust and solidarity. Our Organization
and our member States should focus on what unites them rather than what divides
them, and avoid raising new walls and drawing dividing lines.

Our today’s
conference gives us a possibility to reflect about the different elements that
could contribute to implementing the idea of a Council of Europe Summit on
Democratic Security.To launch a discussion, allow me to highlight three
elements.

·Firstly, let us put the idea of a
new Summit in a historic perspective.

The Council
of Europe has held 3 Summits so far – in 1993 in Vienna, in 1997 in Strasbourg,
and in 2005 in Warsaw. The 1993 Vienna Summit embodied the Council of Europe’s
geographic expansion to the East. The 1997 Strasbourg Summit symbolized the
consolidation of democracy in our new member states which were undergoing the
process of democratic transformation.

The 2005
Warsaw Summit was the “Summit of European Unity” – all European states (with
the exception of Belarus) were finally reunited under one roof on the basis of
shared values and common objectives.The idea for a Council of Europe Summit
devoted to Democratic security was launched by the Secretary General of the
Council of Europe in 2014.The key priority of our member states and of the
Council of Europe for the years to come must be to focus on the implementation
of our standards at national level.

It is first
and foremost the responsibility of the member states themselves. If we fail to
guarantee the respect of our standards at domestic level, there is a risk that
our unique Pan-European Convention system may collapse. Ideological, ethnic,
territorial, and religious issues posed by minorities put at risk the
democratic security of member states.

In addition
to these localized conflicts, there is the ubiquitous threat of jihadist
terrorism.

In the
midst of this turmoil and tension, in new and demanding situations, the Council
of Europe should seek to find innovative responses on the basis of its enduring
principles.

Democratic
security means deeper reforms at domestic level so as to address
possible shortcomings, and deeper co-operation within the Council of Europe
framework, so as to use fully the expertise that our Organisation can
offer. We have to make our societies more inclusive, better integrated, more
tolerant, and, therefore, more secure.

·Secondly, in today’s interdependent
world, we have to stay united in the face of the many challenges we are
confronted with.

Europe will
be lost, if it stays divided. Europe will not be able to be a strong and
successful global player unless it acts in unity and focusing on its strengths.

Supporting
and promoting good neighbourly relations is one of the priorities of my mandate
as President of the Assembly. I am convinced that, on the basis of our history
and past experience, we should and can achieve broader reconciliation in
Europe. The Council of Europe brings together all states of Europe and offers
diplomatic, parliamentary and juridical mechanisms which can contribute to
creating common ground between states in dispute. However, that may not be
enough as exemplified by still outstanding conflicts, in some cases after many
years. The current Council of Europe's political mandate was defined by the
third Summit of Heads of State in Warsaw.Although we have no political mandate to resolve conflicts, we play an
important role in conflict-prevention. As we saw this morning, democracies do
not wage wars on each other. This is the essence of Democratic Security.

The
Assembly is a forum in which mechanisms of review, monitoring, and peer
pressure not always function with mutual acceptance by all concerned.

In the
light of recent events across Europe, our Organisation could have done better
if it had assumed a new leading negotiating role as well.

As I said
in my inaugural speech at the Parliamentary Assembly, all of us must
shoulder our responsibilities, be ready for dialogue, and seek solutions
together. Dialogue is a two-way process or, rather should I say “an
all-inclusive process”. Moreover, we should not forget that we do not live in
isolation: stability on our external borders is as important as internal
stability is.

We have to
provide support to our neighbors in building stronger, more democratic and more
pluralist societies, based on the respect for fundamental rights and freedoms,
tolerance and non-discrimination.

As
President of the Assembly I intend to work closely with our new Partners for
Democracy in order to help them maximize the benefits of the partnership.

·Thirdly, genuine European unity can
never be achieved without co-operation and synergies between all actors and, in
particular, international partners.

The
European Union, with its 28 members, all member states of the Council of
Europe, is of course our key ally and strategic partner.We share the same values,
the same political objectives and the same standards. We must work together to
complement our respective actions; create new synergies, without competition or
rivalry.

Dear colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Having made
these introductory remarks, I am looking forward to hearing the contributions
of other members of the Assembly and national parliamentarians. The decision to
convene the Summit – and the identification of the appropriate moment for this
– belongs to the Heads of States and Governments of our Member states. As
Parliamentarians we support this idea and we are ready to contribute to the
preparations of this important event for our Organization.

Our Committee of Political Affairs has been
seized for a report on the issue of a Council of Europe Summit to defend and
promote democratic security in Europe. Therefore, our debates today will
provide useful food for thought in order to take this work forward.

I thank you very much for your
attention.

The Speech of Latchezar
Toshev

Honorary
Associate of PACE

Check
against delivery!

The
follow up of the Sofia Declaration of PACE

Mr.
President of the Assembly,

Madam
Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Madam
Chairperson of the Bulgarian delegation

Distinguished
Chairpersons of the Committees of Foreign affairs,

Thank
you indeed for the opportunity to participate in this Conference in a
personal capacity as a former member of the Assembly, currently
enjoying the status of Honorary associate.

I
will start by expressing my highest appreciation of the presence of
you all here, gathered to discuss the situation and our common
problems which we face during this very challenging time for the
whole Europe.

Dialogue
such as our Conference today, aimed to consolidate the position of
European states toward the arising problems of our times was and is
badly needed.

The
Dialogue - by definition, is a tool for building a community, through
spar of different opinions in order to seek a solution that is good
for all. And this is how we can reinforce European Unity and
Co-operation. We speak here today about the Democratic Security and
how to combat together the international terrorism, while protecting
at the same time the Council of Europe standards and values.

We
are witnessing that the current tremendous wave of migration is still
far from over. The forecast is that about one million refugees are
expected to come to Europe during this year.If we are to comply with
the UN Convention for Refugees, after the conflict in Syria is over,
those who enjoys the asylum status will have to be returned back to
their homeland. I would like to remind you, that this was exactly the
case with crisis in Kosovo from 2001. At that time the refugees were
initially settled in purposely built refugee camps near the border.

Very
shortly after the end of the conflict, they returned back to Kosovo.

The
current situation however is entirely different. The Refugees are
already far from the area of conflict and a large number of them –
about 60%, are not even seeking asylum status. One of the most
appropriate solutions is to support the establishment of such camps
in Turkey, which will ease the return of the refugees after the end
of the conflict. But this requires significant financial, material
and also timely aid to be given for the implementation of such
policy.

The
second largest inflow of refugees into Europe comes from the South
Mediterranean. The situation there certainly is not easier to resolve
than the Syrian case. It might even deteriorate further if proper and
immediate actions are not taken.

Among
the difficulties in achieving a common position on this wave of
migrants and the pursuit of a common European policy – not only by
the EU, but also by the non-EU European states is the mistrust
created by the unfortunate acts of violation of International law in
several cases. I would list here the aggression against Georgia in
2008, the illegal Annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, the
military conflict in Donbas and the difficulties in implementation of
second Minsk-agreement, as well as the unilaterally undertaken acts
of Russia in Syria.

Recent
tensions between Russia and Turkey had fueled additionally this
negative development too. I would like also to point here other
current treats such as the uncertainty arising from the financial
crisis Europe had suffered, as well as the sense of relative decline;
distorted by perceptions of large-scale immigration and a clear
leadership deficit in shaping Europe’s present and future.The year
2015 started and ended with cruel terrorist acts that stress the need
for joint actions against terrorism – by real deeds, not by words
alone. What should be mentioned here in this respect is the fact that
the perpetrators of the most atrocious terrorist acts in France of
the past year were persons who were all native of Europe – going
back as a third generation. This fact was already fairly pointed out
by the Deputy Secretary general of the Council of Europe in here
presentation earlier today.That is why I wish to touch upon the
problem of emergence of parallel societies in Europe with values,
different from that of mainstream, which can sooner or later endanger
the rights and safety of the all other people and can definitely
affect the Democratic security.

In
2011 after long and tough clashes in the Chamber, the Assembly has
adopted its Recommendation to the Committee of Ministers called
Living Together in 21st Century.

I
had the privilege and the responsibility to be the Rapporteur on this
issue.

We
proposed that the Governments of the member states implement the
concept of Inter-cultural approach dealing with such problems in
order to avoid or eliminate the possibilities for creation of
parallel groups, isolated form the mainstream and in general the
failure of integration. Unlike with the Multi-cultural model which
lays out opportunities and leaves the people on their own (which most
often results in the newcomers missing out on such opportunities due
to lack of awareness, language barriers etc.), the Inter-cultural
approach implies an active interaction of the culturally different
groups in the society in order to develop the best approach to living
together.

When
obviously the laws and conditions are not enough for the real
integration of newcomers and other marginalized groups, what should
be done? Is there other option?

Those
people who are coming or have come some time ago lawfully to live in
a country should not be expected to leave elements of their identity
– faith, language and culture – behind.

However,
they are expected to show willingness to integrate into their new
country’s society not only by learning its language, but through
gaining knowledge and understanding the local culture, and they must
respect democracy, human rights – including the rights of women –
and the rule of law.

This
means the model of European society should be improved in order not
to allow the formation of parallel societies.

In
October 2015 the Assembly returned back to this issue by reaffirming
its position of 2011 – this time without any sharp disagreements
between the people of different views, but with almost unanimity of
the positions.

Now
is turn of the Governments to act and to apply measures to change the
current European model into Inter-cultural one as proposed by
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

I
would strongly advocate converting the current European “Multi-culti”
model
into this new pro-active Inter-cultural
approach,
which no doubt would contribute significantly to our common
Democratic Security.

We
have a common interest to achieve a real Democratic security in
Europe which we have to defend together.

Without
it, neither Social security nor Economic security and prosperity can
be achieved. The goals we pursue can be achieved only through
Dialogue, Understanding and Mutual Acceptance. The willingness to
solve the current problems together is a sign for a clear devotion to
the vision of a shared future which on turn is the core value of
European Unity and Co-operation.

Europe
without dividing lines was a policy of the Council of Europe in the
course of its enlargement. Now the newly-elected President of the
Assembly Mr. Agramunt has an ambition to give a new impetus to this
goal.

I
dare to believe that for all of you present today, the Unification of
Europe was the greatest achievement of our civilization.

It
changed our continent and brought peace and prosperity for the
European people and Co-operation and mutual understanding and respect
between all Europeans. The message which Bulgaria has given to you
all - as a slogan of its Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers
of the Council of Europe is “Unity
makes strength!”

It
explains all!

It
is the silver-line crossing through all of our initiatives during the
Bulgarian Presidency.

Our
attempt was, is and with no any doubt will be, to consolidate
European states into a common position on the serious problems which
Europe is facing today.

Sofia-declaration
of 27 of November last year was the first step.

It
was supported by the all Leaders of the Political Factions of the
Assembly and in fact it was unanimously adopted. During the January –
part – session, Dr. Dzhema Grozdanova initiated a Motion for
Recommendation to the Committee of Ministers in the same Direction
calling for Fourth Council of Europe Summit of Heads of state and
Government. Now there will be a Report by the Committee of Political
Affairs and Democracy and then in Chamber and the Members of
Parliament's voice will be heard.

In
this way we believe at highest possible level will be able to
reinforce European Unity and Co-operation in order to take
appropriate common measures achieving Democratic Security for our
citizens.

Then
will a turn of Governments to act.

The
Committee of Ministers have to assembly the Fourth Council of Europe
Summit dedicated to democratic security and reinforcement if the
European unity and Co-operation.

Please
ask your Ministers to support actively this Forum.

The
European people expect such a decision for consolidation around our
values and principles as a response of the current problems to be
taken by their Governments.

New Director General visits ICMPD member state Bulgaria

11. February 2016

During his visit to Bulgaria, ICMPD's Director
General Michael Spindelegger met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko
Borisov and spoke at the parliament.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister and the ICMPD
Director General discussed the current migration crisis and the need for
multilateral dialogue as a basis for coherent responses during their
bilateral meeting on 9 February. Prime Minister Borisov expressed his
appreciation of the level of cooperation between Bulgaria and ICMPD and
acknowledged the potential for further deepening this relationship.

Mr
Michael Spindelegger presented his plans to strengthen ICMPD’s
capacities to act as a platform for dialogue and mediation on migration –
a forum for discussion, listening to everyone’s concerns and proposing
solutions. Furthermore he will strengthen ICMPD’s work as a think tank
that provides independent research.

ICMPD Director General also
visited the Bulgarian Parliament.

As a panelist at the Conference of the
Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committees of the
Council of Europe Member States, he spoke about the need to keep the
right balance between internal and foreign policy as a way to cope with
the current migration challenges in Europe.

Bulgaria is a member state
of ICMPD and joined the organisation in 2003.

Amongst others, ICMPD has
supported Bulgaria in the area of legal migration and the fight against
trafficking in human beings.